Portland State slips past Montana State 68-65

Mar 7, 2010 - 5:09 AM BOZEMAN, Mont.(AP) -- Melvin Jones sank his fifth 3-pointer of the game with three seconds left to lift Portland State to a 68-65 win over Montana State in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament Saturday night.

With 1:04 left, third-seeded Montana State (15-14) took a 65-63 lead on a 3-pointer by Branden Johnson.

But Paul Guede made two free throws for Portland State (13-18) with 35 seconds left to tie it. Montana State turned the ball over on the next play, setting Jones up for the game winner.

Jones finished with 17 points for the Vikings and Julius Thomas helped out with 19 points.

The Vikings, which entered the tournament in the No. 6 seed, advance to the semifinals Tuesday in Ogden, Utah, where they will play top-seeded Weber State.

Bobby Howard and Danny Piepoli led the Bobcats with 16 points each. Erik Rush finished with 13 points.